Local church joins with region to give back to community

Published: Friday, April 29, 2011 at 10:40 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, April 29, 2011 at 10:40 a.m.

HOUMA — Members of a local church are doing their part to beautify the area and serve the community during a regional day of service.

Members of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 3702 La. 311, Houma, are painting maintenance buildings near the practice football field on the Nicholls State University campus in Thibodaux as part of the church’s day of service Saturday.

“It is our goal as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to let [people] know we love being a part of and serving this beautiful community,” said Mindy Dalley, the church’s public affairs committee member. “We hope people will associate us with Jesus Christ and understand with our Christian faith we are grateful to assist in enlightening and improving lives through word and deed.”

The event is part of the church’s day of service initiative. Dalley said each stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints — similar to a diocese for the Catholic church — takes part in community-outreach programs during the same day throughout a region of the U.S. — Saturday being the southeast region’s day.

She said the church has 99 stakes performing a day of service on different days. A stake is comprised of several wards.

Officials with Salt Lake City-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are happy to see local churches getting involved in the community.

“Church members across the world have been invited to dedicate one day of service in their communities, and are also encouraged to invite others from the community to join them,” said Kim Farah, a spokesperson for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

This year’s day of service is being held to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ welfare program.

“It’s really neat to try and coordinate efforts ... to do something fun for your community on the same day,” Dalley said. “We feel like we’re more united. We’re just trying to get the news out to the communities that we are really trying to provide the service for the community and let them see that we’re doing something important.”

Dalley said it’s important to give back to the community in which you live. She compared the service from others throughout the U.S. who volunteered to rescue and assist victims in need after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 with physical labor, food, clothing, shelter and emotional support.

“It is our hope we will not only be remembered for our Christian service during and post natural disasters, but for our commitment to our day-to-day well-being here,” she said.

Dalley, 39, said they typically have 50 volunteers for the local church’s annual day of service.

While Nicholls is donating the supplies, the local church is donating the labor.

Two of the church’s members, Mike Davis and Justin Anderson, work at Nicholls and recommended the service project.

The church’s day-of-service initiative was started several years ago.

Service projects like this one take place throughout the world. Latter-Day Saints join with other faiths to clean and beautify their communities. The church’s day-of-service program is similar to the church’s Helping Hands program, which was started more than 10 years ago as a way for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to reach out to others in a spirit of friendship and service.

The key to the success of the program, according to the church’s website, is that the program gives those with strong desire to serve others an organized opportunity to help.

In 2008, more than 1,400 volunteers joined with other volunteer groups to help local residents who were derailed by Hurricane Ike. The volunteers brought cleaning kits, hygiene kits and chain saws, among other necessities.

The Helping Hands program started 13 years ago when the church asked church leaders in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile to reach out in their communities. Those same leaders organized an annual day of service.

Since the late ‘90s, the program has included large-scale service projects from South America to North America, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa.

Dalley, a Utah native and Houma resident, said other stakes in the area that are participating in a day of service Saturday include Luling who is holding a food drive; New Orleans and St. Bernard who are cleaning local cemeteries; New Orleans Second Ward who is painting apartments for a special needs group; and Covington who is cleaning up a low-income neighborhood.

“Serving is a wonderful way to reach out to other people, to remember how blessed we have been in our own lives and to follow Jesus Christ, who spent his life in the service of others,” Farah said.

<p>HOUMA — Members of a local church are doing their part to beautify the area and serve the community during a regional day of service.</p><p>Members of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 3702 La. 311, Houma, are painting maintenance buildings near the practice football field on the Nicholls State University campus in Thibodaux as part of the church's day of service Saturday. </p><p>“It is our goal as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to let [people] know we love being a part of and serving this beautiful community,” said Mindy Dalley, the church's public affairs committee member. “We hope people will associate us with Jesus Christ and understand with our Christian faith we are grateful to assist in enlightening and improving lives through word and deed.”</p><p>The event is part of the church's day of service initiative. Dalley said each stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints — similar to a diocese for the Catholic church — takes part in community-outreach programs during the same day throughout a region of the U.S. — Saturday being the southeast region's day.</p><p>She said the church has 99 stakes performing a day of service on different days. A stake is comprised of several wards.</p><p>Officials with Salt Lake City-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are happy to see local churches getting involved in the community.</p><p>“Church members across the world have been invited to dedicate one day of service in their communities, and are also encouraged to invite others from the community to join them,” said Kim Farah, a spokesperson for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. </p><p>This year's day of service is being held to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' welfare program.</p><p>“It's really neat to try and coordinate efforts ... to do something fun for your community on the same day,” Dalley said. “We feel like we're more united. We're just trying to get the news out to the communities that we are really trying to provide the service for the community and let them see that we're doing something important.”</p><p>Dalley said it's important to give back to the community in which you live. She compared the service from others throughout the U.S. who volunteered to rescue and assist victims in need after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 with physical labor, food, clothing, shelter and emotional support. </p><p>“It is our hope we will not only be remembered for our Christian service during and post natural disasters, but for our commitment to our day-to-day well-being here,” she said.</p><p>Dalley, 39, said they typically have 50 volunteers for the local church's annual day of service.</p><p>While Nicholls is donating the supplies, the local church is donating the labor.</p><p>Two of the church's members, Mike Davis and Justin Anderson, work at Nicholls and recommended the service project.</p><p>The church's day-of-service initiative was started several years ago.</p><p>Service projects like this one take place throughout the world. Latter-Day Saints join with other faiths to clean and beautify their communities. The church's day-of-service program is similar to the church's Helping Hands program, which was started more than 10 years ago as a way for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to reach out to others in a spirit of friendship and service.</p><p>The key to the success of the program, according to the church's website, is that the program gives those with strong desire to serve others an organized opportunity to help. </p><p>In 2008, more than 1,400 volunteers joined with other volunteer groups to help local residents who were derailed by Hurricane Ike. The volunteers brought cleaning kits, hygiene kits and chain saws, among other necessities.</p><p>The Helping Hands program started 13 years ago when the church asked church leaders in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile to reach out in their communities. Those same leaders organized an annual day of service.</p><p>Since the late '90s, the program has included large-scale service projects from South America to North America, Europe, Australia, Asia and Africa.</p><p>Dalley, a Utah native and Houma resident, said other stakes in the area that are participating in a day of service Saturday include Luling who is holding a food drive; New Orleans and St. Bernard who are cleaning local cemeteries; New Orleans Second Ward who is painting apartments for a special needs group; and Covington who is cleaning up a low-income neighborhood.</p><p>“Serving is a wonderful way to reach out to other people, to remember how blessed we have been in our own lives and to follow Jesus Christ, who spent his life in the service of others,” Farah said.</p>